Velocipede-handle-bar fastening



TQB.JEPFERY. VELOGIPEDE HANDLE BAR FASTENING; No, 516,739.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 20, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcn.

THOMAS B. JEFFERY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIPEDE-HANDLE-BAR FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters l atent No. 516,739, dated March 20,1894. Application filed April 1'7, 1893. Serial No. 470,669. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. J EFFERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinVelocipede-Handle-BarFastenings, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to the securing of the stem of a handle-bar in the steering head or stem of the steering fork, particularly with reference to the vertical adjustability of the handle-bar, and it consists in an improved construction of the steering head or tube with respect to its adaptation to be clamped onto the handle-bar stem.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a partly sectional detail elevation of the upper end of the steering head and the handle-bar stem therein, showing the construction which is more commonly employed and upon which my invention is an improvement. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the corresponding parts in my improved construction. Fig. 3 is a section at the line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the latch forlocking the adjusting nut.

A is the fork stem-which is tubular.

B is the steering head penetrated longitudi nally by the fork stem.

0 O are the two members of the ball-case which afiords the upper bearing of the stem in the steering head, similar bearing being assumed at the lower end which is broken away.

D is the handle-bar, and D, its stem, which is inserted down into the upper end of the tubular fork stem A.

In the construction heretofore more commonly employed, shown in Fig. 1, the upper member X of the ball-case is provided with an interiorly threaded hub and screwed onto the stem A, the jam-n ut X following it on the same thread to secure it in position. v The stem extending considerably above the ballcase and its jam nut is slit at several points, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it is adapted to be contracted by a clamp F, applied about the slit end, whereby the handle-bar stem D is grasped firmly by the tube. The defect in this construction is that the seat of the clamp being at the end, the end is reduced to allow the ball-case and jam-nut to be passed over it to reach their thread (or,-if the thread 1s run out to the end, it is mutilated by the clamp and being of no service as a thread and adding no strength, might as well be cut away), and the metal is thus rendered thinner at the portion which serves to grasp the handle-bar stem than anywhere else; and since the entire strain of steering is transmitted to the fork stem at this point, it should be the strongest rather than the weakest point.

My improvement consists in making the upper member 0 of the ball-case slide freely on the fork stem, locating the clamp F immedi-.

ately above it, slitting the stem at a a, &c., at the portion encircled by the clamp, the slits preferably not extending to the end, and in providing the adjusting nut E to operate upon the threaded terminal portlon of the stem above the clamp and preferablybeyond the slits. If the slits extend into the threaded portion, or even into the end, the

structure is not seriously weakened, because the stem is not reduced where the clamp is applied below the threaded part; and the contraction of the tube, to permit which the slats are made, will not extend appreciably beyond the lower limit of the threaded portion, and

so will not diminish the diameter at the part upper end of the clamp; for after the proper adjustment has been effected the clamp may be set so tightly that the adjusting nut may be jammed down against it without afiectlng the hearing. I prefer, however, to notch the periphery of the adjusting nut, and lock 1t by a latch G, conveniently made in the form shown in Fig. 4, having its eye G, adapting it to be passed onto the end of the screw F of the clamp, and to be held in place securely by the nut F By this constructlon nosevere strain is brought upon the thread of the adjusting nut or the thread on the stem wlth which it engages, nor is the accuracy of ad ustment of the ball-bearing liable to be disturbed, as by the setting of the jam-nut after it is adjusted; but the clamp being relaxed, and the latch G disengaged, the adjusting nut E being rotated until the bearing is properly adj usted, the latch will be thrown again into engagement and the nut F tightened, and the clamp thereby set firmly onto the stem, while at the same time the latch is secured firmly in its engagement with the nut without any disturbance of the hearing.

The clamp encircling the tubular fork stem may be made to hold the handle-bar stem within the fork stem, even without slitting the fork stem, and if this is done, the leading advantage of the construction herein shown is still preserved,that by locating the adjustingnutor adjustablestopabove the clamp, the bearing being below the clamp, it is rendered unnecessary to reduce the tubular fork stem where the clamp encircles it, its full strength being retained at that critical point. It will be evident also that an otherwise adjustable stop may be substituted for the adjusting not without departing from the essential feature of the invention. I consider, however, that slitting the stem is the preferable method, and that a nut is the preferable form of adjustable stop, and I therefore claim these forms specifically.

I claim- 1. In combination, substantially as set forth, the tubular fork stem and the handlebarstem extending within the same; the steering head journaled outside the fork stem, said fork stem being longitudinally slit near the upper end, and a clamp encompassing such slit portion adapted to contract the same about the handle-bar stem, the upper hearing of the head being below the clamp and the tubular stem being threaded at the end, and an adjusting nut on said threaded portion above the clamp: substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a steering head, a tubular steering fork stem pivoted thereto; a handle-bar stem inserted within such tubular stem; the upper bearing movable on the steering fork stem; the clamp above such hearing, and the adjusting nut above the clamp; the tubular stem being slit where it.- is encircled by the clamp, the end of the stem being threaded for the nut: substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a slitted tubular fork stem, the upper bearing of the head thereon; two movable parts above said bearing,the clamp to contract the slitted portion and the adjusting nut above the clamp;

a latch joined to one of said two parts and adapted to engage the other to lock the adj usting nut against rotation when the clamp is set fast on the stem: substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the steering head, a tubular steering fork pivoted thereto, a handle-bar stem inserted in such tubular stem; a clamp encircling the tubular fork stem at a portion of the length of the latter within which the handle-bar stem extends; the upper bearing of the steering head and steering fork stem located below the clamp, and an adjustable stop above the clamp: substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the steering head, a tubular fork stem pivoted therein; a handle-bar stem inserted within such tubular stem, the upper bearing of the head and fork stem movable on the fork stem; said fork stem being slit longitudinally, and a clamp encircling it at the slit portion, and an adjustable stop on the stem above the clamp: substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with the steering head, the tubular fork stein pivoted therein, a handle bar stem extending within the tubular fork stem; the clamp encircling the latter stem at a part of its length within which the handle-bar stem extends; the upper bearing of the steering head and steering fork located below the clamp; an adjusting nut screwed onto the fork stem above the clamp, such nut having anotched flange; and a spur movable into and out of engagement with the notches of such flange, and adapted to be made rigid with the fork stem and handle-bar stem: substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with the slitted tubular fork stem and the clamp adapted to contract it at the slitted portion, the adjustable hearing below the clamp; the adjusting nut above the clamp; the latch pivoted on the clamp screw of the clamp and adapted to engage the adjusting nut to lock it against rotation: substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, Illinois, this 15th day of April, 1893.

TI-IOS. B. JEFFERY. WVitnesses:

N. G. HARRIS, WM. H. MULLEN. 

